Are human feelings & emotions just a chemical reaction/process?
Do we instinctively act the way we do due to biological preinstallations we need as humans like emotions and feelings or do we willingly care warmly or hate alot or love so much from our hearts. Because people say that love comes from the heart yet last I heard what a heart did was pump blood.
I think all emotions and feelings come from the brain and can probably be linked to neurosis & chemicals.
__________________ "The darkside, Sidious, is an illness no true Sith wishes to be cured of, my young apprentice .."
No doubt emotions have a biological component which has served an evolutionary function. But humans, being human, do have the mental component (and spiritual too, if you are thus inclined) which can transcend "pure biology." Of course, one can also take the reductionist's approach and say that spirit is a fiction and even all mental processes are epiphenomena, "pure biology," and nothing more. Biology is destiny, whole enchalada, end of story. I personally don't agree with that; so ultimately it depends on your View of Life.
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Shinier than a speeding bullet.
Re: Are human feelings & emotions just a chemical reaction/process?
The definition of an emotion is “
1.) A mental state that arises spontaneously rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes; a feeling
2). A state of mental agitation or disturbance
3).The part of the consciousness that involves feeling; sensibility”
Therefore it can be understood that the emotion is of both biological origin as well as “spiritual”. For example, the first definition can be used to explain rage. When someone “feels” compelled to attack someone without ever thinking twice, the body will always react accordingly. Adrenaline, muscles tightening, fear (as ironic as it may sound; another emotion helping another) will all play parts in the emotion of “rage”. (Note that two of the listed side effects are biological that occur through neural stimuli). It can be argued that emotions come from biological dissent, or “spiritual”. However it is proven that is comes from the subconscious, and that has no biological traces in it whatsoever. It’s what separates humans from animals. It’s what makes us who we are, what we are, and determines where we will be in the future.
Are human feelings & emotions just a chemical reaction/process?
IMO, the word "just" introduces a very subtle bias, as if somehow emotions are "not really" important or necessary for healthy human functioning. Unless you're a Vulcan, I think most would agree that "feelings and emotions" are, in large part, what being alive is all about.
Especially love. Just like if you don't breathe or don't eat, if you don't love, you die. Just takes longer.
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Shinier than a speeding bullet.
You say that if your dont love and dont breathe and eat, yea, you die. Death is ineviatable, so what does love have to do with it. I can be in love but still die. Or do you mean live on in memories? Something of that nature or....?
why would emotions cause your life to shorten? I dont see how not "loving" somthing could "kill" you in a way regardless of which meaning it represtents
Scientific/medical studies and (for those who have just plain lived long enough) common sense show that a person needs more than just food, water and air to live a long, healthy life (Heroic Loners, you're kidding yourself if you think otherwise).
Simply put: No love leads to depression. Depression lowers the immune system (physical effect), and it also lessens the "will to live" (psychological effect). To those who have always had a source of love (parental, gf/bf, pet, etc), you will not be able to understand how its long-term absence can affect you physically, mentally, emotionally.
Yes, you won't die from lack of love in the same way no food will kill you. But if you ever find yourself in an extended period of your life when you are w/o it, then you will definitely understand. Guaranteed.
__________________
Shinier than a speeding bullet.
Ill add something to this, science has proved that a baby WILL die if it is not given enough love and attention, no not just 'unhappy' but it will actually die even though it is still given plenty of food and water. I dont gather much spiritual meaning out of this, biology can explain it... but its still interesting.
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Dec 26th, 2005 01:23 PM
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